An IFR M20 instructor at 3;000 ft in VMC; experiences a near midair collision with opposite directio...

Attributes
ACN	1143927
Time
Date	201401
Local Time Of Day	0601-1200
Place
Locale Reference	GED.Airport
State Reference	DE
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Make Model Name	M-20 J (201) / Allegro
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	Cruise
Route In Use	Direct
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Function	Instructor Pilot Not Flying
Qualification	Flight Crew Instrument Flight Crew Multiengine Flight Crew Flight Instructor Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Experience	Flight Crew Last 90 Days 15 Flight Crew Total 7130 Flight Crew Type 2118
Events
Anomaly	Conflict NMAC Deviation - Altitude Excursion From Assigned Altitude
Miss Distance	Horizontal 100 Vertical 100

Narrative:

Enroute direct at 3;000 nhk approach called traffic at our 12 o'clock 7 miles opposite direction; type unknown at 2;900 ft; then 5 miles 12 o'clock at 2;900 ft; then 3 miles 12 o'clock at 2;900 ft. We had reported negative contact each time and requested vectors to avoid traffic. No vector or further instruction was given by ATC and pilot flying began a climb when traffic was called 12 O'clock opposite direction; 1 mile; 2;900 ft. We observed traffic pass immediately below us and just left about 100 ft below. Calling traffic in sight; nhk handed off to dover approach and we reported in. Dover questioned our altitude which was now about 3;400 feet and we reported descending to 3;000 feet. Dover immediately cleared us to 2;000 ft and we descended and landed without incident. With only 100 foot separation under IFR; I feel we had no choice except to climb until traffic was in sight.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An IFR M20 instructor at 3;000 FT in VMC; experiences a NMAC with opposite direction traffic which had been reported by ATC at 2;900 FT. ATC offers no altitude or heading change to avoid and with the traffic at 12 O'clock and one mile and not in sight; a climb is initiated.

Narrative: Enroute direct at 3;000 NHK Approach called traffic at our 12 o'clock 7 miles opposite direction; type unknown at 2;900 FT; then 5 miles 12 o'clock at 2;900 FT; then 3 miles 12 o'clock at 2;900 FT. We had reported negative contact each time and requested vectors to avoid traffic. No vector or further instruction was given by ATC and pilot flying began a climb when traffic was called 12 O'clock opposite direction; 1 mile; 2;900 FT. We observed traffic pass immediately below us and just left about 100 FT below. Calling traffic in sight; NHK handed off to Dover Approach and we reported in. Dover questioned our altitude which was now about 3;400 feet and we reported descending to 3;000 feet. Dover immediately cleared us to 2;000 FT and we descended and landed without incident. With only 100 foot separation under IFR; I feel we had no choice except to climb until traffic was in sight.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.

An IFR M20 instructor at 3;000 ft in VMC; experiences a near midair collision with opposite direction traffic which had been reported by ATC at 2;900 ft. ATC offers no altitude or heading change to avoid and with the traffic at 12 O'clock and one mile and not in sight; a climb is initiated.